Roney

The most common Irish variant of Rooney primarily concentrated in the Ulster counties of Down, Louth, Armagh, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and Sligo. From the Gaelic O'Ruanaidh and O'Ruanadha which means the descendant of the champion of ulster. The O'Roneys of Ulster held the hereditary title of Ollamh of the Ui Eachach Cobha tribe, and were thus styled chief poets to the Magennis clan. The family be traced following the noble bardic practice for 400-500 years, and also held the role of erenaghs or protectors and keepers of church lands held by the Ui Eachach Cobha. The first spelling of the name was Cellach O'Ruanadha died 1079 AD ri ollamh "Chief Poet" of all Ireland. A number of the O'Roney clan chiefs recieved pardons in 1602 AD and 1641 AD along with Sir Art Magennis for their roles in uprisings against the English law. In 1609 Sir Art Magennis having been ennobled under English law by the policy of surrender and regrant gave large tracts of land in their native county of Down to the present chiefs of the O'Roney family. In 1609 CuConnaght O'Roney was granted the 8 townland district of Decomet or "the good view" centered on Slieve Croob in the modern parishes of Drumballyroney, Drumgooland, and Kilcoo. Hugh McNiese McRory O'Roney was granted a district of 7 neighboring townlands. In modern times the parish of Drumballyroney is named from the Gaelic Droim Bhaile Ui Ruanaidh which means "Ridge of O'Roneys holding. The neighboring Ballyroney is also named for the family. The O'Roney district seems to have been originally 21 townlands in the parishs of Drumballyroney, Drumgooland, Kilcoo and Dromara. The family's holdings where cut down to 18 townlands by 1609, and the family would lose all of their landholdings in 1653 following Oliver Cromwells conquest of Ireland. When found in the counties of Fermanagh, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, and Monaghan the name is usually a variant of a variety of Irish names including Moroney, Maroney, Mulroney, Ruane, Morooney, Mulroney, or Marooney